On the Straight and Narrow-web

Tanis agrees on combo printing's future: "The combo press is probably taking over higher-quality work." Last year, about 15 percent to 20 percent of the presses on Allied Gear's show room floor possessed combination capabilities. This year, combo presses comprise approximately 35 percent of sales.

Where previously end-use customers would hire two converters to handle different printing process elements for one job, Tanis states, "More converters' customers are demanding a single source."